Gunshots have been fired near the entrance to the Pentagon, resulting in multiple injuries, and the facility was placed on lockdown.
Arlington County Fire Department reported “multiple patients” but it was not immediately clear if they had been shot or the extent of the injuries.
The incident at the headquarters of the US military occurred on a Metro bus platform that is part of the Pentagon Transit Centre, the Pentagon Protection Force Protection Agency tweeted.
The facility is just steps from the Pentagon building, which is in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC.
An Associated Press reporter near the building heard multiple gunshots, then a pause, then at least one additional shot.
Another AP journalist heard police yelling “shooter”.
A Pentagon announcement said the facility was on lockdown due to “police activity”.
The agency responsible for security at the building, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, tweeted shortly before noon that the scene of the incident was secure, though there was no announcement that the lockdown had been lifted.
It said: “The scene of the incident is secure. It is still an active crime scene. We request that everyone stay away from the Metro rail entrance and bus platform area. Transportation at the Pentagon is diverted to Pentagon City.”
Metro subway trains were ordered to bypass the Pentagon due to the police operation.
